sea. At Vila, a Japanese commander reported, "it had become very diffi-

cult to fire the antiaircraft guns as

the enemy places their artillery upon our position immediately after we commence firing upon the aircraft." At Piru, Japanese counter-

battery fire hit the artillery group throughout September and the first two days of October. A number of the enemy artillery projectiles failed to detonate and there were no casu-

Marine Corps Historical Collection

Close-in air defense around the airfield was accomplished by regrouping defense battalion

assets from Rendova, Laiana, and Zanana. This "Twin-Twenty" is at Munda, and is on one of several types of mobile mounts at New Georgia.

The artillery group used the serWilliam T. Box, with the artillery group's advance party, "we hiked vices of spotter aircraft, but because up from Munda using a native of enemy gunfire, switched from guide. I remember we hiked the light observation planes to through jungle most of the way. I Grumman TBFs because their

remember I was scared. I remember armor plating gave the pilots

I was glad to see that open area greater protection. First Lieutenant

with the supply parachutes" left by Donald V. Sandager and Sergeant the Army. Soon afterwards, Battery Herschel J. Cooper flew these misB moved to Piru and on 2 September sions over Kolombangara. "We both participated in the shelling of Vila. A volunteered to a request from Major Japanese defender there with the 8th Hiatt. When we reported to Munda Combined Special Naval Landing Force Airfield we had no parachutes and wrote in his diary, with "the situa- were told each flier had to have his tion as it is, one just can't help but own," recalled Sandager. "The pidistrust the operational plans of the lots were inexperienced and flew up from Guadalcanal each mornImperial Headquarters." Dead at his post, this Japanese soldier lies by a smashed 37mm antitank gun near the airfield. As the tanks broke through, the infantry followed and the fighting continued until the positions were overrun or buried in the rubble. Marine Corps Historical Collection

ing and we had to direct them to find the battery and Kolombangara. Radio communication with

the battery was bad." Admiral Halsey noted the artillery group and Lieutenant Colonel O'Neil's ability to "utilize air spotting and the accuracy of their fire which stood out above other more experienced groups."

The peak of enemy air activity over Munda Airfield occurred the

night of 14-15 September when enemy planes kept gun crews at battle stations all night. The 90mm

group expended 3,378 rounds, downing one plane and causing most of the enemy planes to jettison

their bombs over the jungle or the 27

alties from the shelling. On 15 September, General Sasaki was ordered to evacuate his remaining 12,400 men from Kolombangara. The next month on 3 October, while

flying his assigned air spotter missions, Lieutenant Sandager reported Vila evacuated; the Japanese had

pulled out. Lieutenant Colonel Scheyer was pleased to state that for the "first time in this war the enemy

had been driven from his base by Other Japanese defenses included this 25mm automatic dual-purpose twin-barrelled gun in position on the airfield approaches. These proved to be deadly against both American air and ground forces. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 69975

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Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 58411

This 1 August 1943 bombing attack struck Marine positions on Rendova, only wounding one Marine, but destroying a height finder with flying coral.

bombing and artillery fire." He an hour before dawn and an hour battalion, with the exception of concluded that at Kiska it was after sunset, had occurred daily for one radar crew and two searchbombing and ship's gunfire, at all gun crews. In early November, light sections, was relieved of the Kolombangara it was naval gun- Battery A moved to Nusalavata Is- Munda Airfield defenses by the fire, bombing, and artillery fire that turned the tide. The final action of

land and Battery B to Roviana Island where the 155mm guns cov-

Army 77th AAA Group. The 9th Defense Battalion spent several weeks in camp in the Munda area waiting for transportation. These

ered Munda Bar and the eastern approach to Blanche Channel restroyers intercepted Japanese evac- spectively. Lieutenant Colonel weeks were not idle as central uation ships during the Battle of Scheyer remained in command of camps for the several groups had Vella Lavella. the 9th until 3 November, when he to be set up and improved. TrainThe Japanese air effort slackened was assigned to I Marine Amphibi- ing schedules, begun in the later considerably in October, and came ous Corps and the command was stages of the campaign, were carthe campaign was a sea battle on 6-7 October when U.S. Navy de-

to an abrupt halt in November turned over to Lieutenant Colonel ried out. Transport ships were available for the trip to the Russell

1943. While at Munda Airfield, the 9th Dfense Battalion accounted for eight more enemy planes. Numerous alerts, conditions red, and gen-

Archie E. O'Neil.

eral quarters stand-tos that began

pation duties. On 31 December, the pleted on 25 February.

On 22 November, the 9th De- Islands beginning on 13 January fense Battalion was attached to VI 1944 and continued until the enCorps Island Command for occu- tire battalion move was com-

28

The fighting by the 9th Defense Battalion contributed considerably to the victory of the land forces on

Flight Clothing and Equipment

New Georgia, and demonstrated the value of advance base defense.

The 9th was in action against Japanese aircraft on 59 different days, for a total of 159 fire missions

and 249 alerts, with 46 enemy planes downed. Not counted in these statistics were aircraft dam-

aged or diverted from their intended targets and forced to under-

take less accurate nighttime

bombing missions. The fire of 155mm guns destroyed a number of enemy artillery positions and

troops on Munda, Baanga, and Kolombangara. Numerous pillboxes and machine gun positions were destroyed and enemy troops killed by the tank platoon on New Georgia Island. Although the firing

light clothing was considered

naval aviation equipment rather than a purely Marine Corps uniform and was strictly functional. Basic items included leather

boots, leather gloves, goggles, a cloth helmet that contained headphones, and a one-piece cotton khaki flying suit. Captain John M. Foster, flying from Munda, stated he

wore a flying suit and then slung a "leather shoulder holster containing my 45-caliber automatic over my neck and buckled the belt, strung with my hunting knife, first-aid kit, extra cartridges and canteen, around my waist." He also wore a baseball cap and carried his flying helmet, goggles, and gloves. In addition, the pilots carried 65 pounds

of parachute, rubber raft, and " batteries and tanks were the most jungle pack." active elements of the battalion, other components of the battalion were deeply involved in the fight- efforts to establish an airfield at ing also. The battalion also de- Munda Point in December 1942. stroyed a machine gun position Thus began a routine air and sea and killed three Japanese on Ren- pounding of the Munda Airfield dova and killed another 22 enemy until ground forces could capture

Munda was a rung on the ladder that

Zanana.

For aviation units, the operating area was divided into the combat

and captured two prisoners at it for Allied use. Battalion losses throughout the campaign were remarkably few: 13 dead, 1 missing, over 50 wounded in action, and other non-battle casualties. Malaria caused a number of the Marines to be evacuated. General Griswold summarized the battalion's performance by concluding

that every "officer and man of the

For Marine flyers, these missions evoked "a parade of impressions— long over-water flights; jungle hills slipping by below; the sight of the

ended at Rabaul.

The air war for the Central Solomons was a series of sorties— fighter sweeps and bombing runs. area, the forward area, and the rear

area. These zones shifted as the campaigns moved north towards

target—airfield, ship, or town, sometimes all three; the attack and the violent defense; and then the seemingly longer, weary return. "The role of land-based aviation in the Central Solomons Campaign was critical, be-

the Rabaul area. While the 1st and 2d Marine Aircraft Wings were pre-

be neutralized before Allied air and

Sols was comprised of three subor-

Unless the Allies could capture suitable airfields closer to the Japanese

mand was led by Colonel Christian F. Schilt, who had been awarded a

base areas at Rabaul and Bougainyule, the air war would be limited in range and effect. The Guadalcanal

Medal of Honor for heroism in Nicaragua in 1928, and Fighter

.

.

.

sent in the Southern Pacific, Marines flew under a joint air com-

mand,

Commander

Aircraft

Solomons (ComAirSols). Rear Ad-

organization has reason to feel cause the Japanese air effort had to miral Marc A. Mitscher's ComAirproud of its accomplishment." The I

Marine Amphibious Corps comground forces could climb up the dinate segments: Bomber, Fighter, mander, Lieutenant General Solomons ladder towards Rabaul. and Strike Commands. Strike ComAlexander A. Vandegrift, said "how

proud I am to belong to the same outfit as they do."

Milk Runs and Black Sheep The first Marines to fight at

airfields were 650 miles from Rabaul, Munda Point was a somewhat-closer

New Georgia were the aircrews who were sent to blunt Japanese 440 miles. For Marines aviators, 29

Command was under Colonel Edward L. Pugh; both veteran Marine aviators in a structure where experi-

ence, "not rank, seniority, or ser-

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The The Douglas Douglas R4D R4D 'Skytrain' 'Skytrain' ot crew of of three, three, 28 28 passengers passengers or 18 stretchers, and three ot all all aircraft aircraftin inthe theCentral CentralSolomons Solomonswere werefighters fighters aa crew medical attendants. It or bombers. The Douglas DC—3 Skytrain could also carry up to 6,000 pounds or bombers. The Douglas DC—3 SkytramororDakota Dakota medical attendants. It could of cargo at average speeds of of cargo at average speeds of 185 185 miles-per-hour. miles-per-hour. The (C—47 in the Navy version) was designed in 1933, The U.S. U.S. (C—47 in the Navy version) was designed in 1933, Navy and Marines had some 600 Skytrains, designaLed as and became the standard American transport of the war. Navy and Marines had some 600 Skytrains, designated and became the standard American transport of the war. R4Ds. In the Central Solomons they were used for R4Ds. In the Central Solomons air reThe plane was an all-metal monoplane with twin engines The plane was an all-metal monoplane with twin engines and supply and and medical medical evactiation. evacuation. The The Marines Marines were were still still and retractable retractable landing landing gear. gear. ItIt was was powered powered by by two two Pratt Pratt & & supply using the C117, a variation of the R4D frito the 1970's. Whitney radial engines of 1,200 horsepower each. It carried using the C117, a variation of the R4D into the 1970's. Whitney radial engines of 1,200 horsepower each. It carried

N

vice," was paramount. The Marine

evacuating wounded without Marine squadrons available for the

squadrons flew Grumman F4F fighter escorts such as the bombing New Georgia campaign. The CorWildcats, Grumman F6F Hellcats,

missions had. Some 40 other sair, along with the new F6F Hell-

squadrons were in rearward bases, making a total of 669 aircraft availor General Motors TBF Avenger tor- able for the Central Solomons campedo bombers and Douglas SBD paign. They were opposed in the air Dauntless dive bombers in Strike by the Japanese Eleventh Air Fleet and Chance-Vought F4U Corsairs in

Fighter Command; and Grumman

cat fighter, dominated the air-to-air battle to sweep the skies of the Japan-

ese. This superiority was enhanced by Army Air Corps aircraft, the Lock-

heed P-38 Lightning, for example.

Command. Also operating in the and Japanese Army air units de- Once introduced, each new aircraft theater was Marine Aircraft Group 25, the South Pacific Combat Air

fending New Guinea.

Transport Command (SCAT), which

"Whistling Death" to the Japanese and the "Bent Wing Widow Maker"

flew unarmed transport planes,

The Corsair, known as the

version could do a little more than the basic models; it could fly higher, fly longer, and carry more armament

than its predecessor. Advances in to the Marines, was delivered in radio detection and ranging (radar) supplies and replacements and March 1943 in time to have eight and communications continued as Douglas R4D Skytrains, bringing in

30

transporting Admiral Isoroku Ya- ComAirSols planes intercepted and mamoto, who had planned the at- virtually destroyed 100 Japanese kept pace with the aircraft. One Marine with Fighter Com- tack on Pearl Harbor. Allied intelli- aircraft before they reached their mand, Major John P. Condon, re- gence agencies learned that the target, the New Georgia invasion called that ComAirSols routinely admiral and his staff would fly to fleet. By the end of the month, the struck the airfields of southern Kahili on 18 April 1943. Admiral Allied forces were landing on New Bougainville "with escorted bombers, Mitscher ordered Fighter Com- Georgia and the Japanese lost the night attacks by Navy and Marine mand to intercept Yamamoto's air- battle to disrupt the offensive. The Corps TBFs, and some mining at craft. Planning for this mission fell Japanese responded with repeated night of the harbors." He went on to the Fighter Command's deputy, raids against shipping and landing to observe that the shorter-range Lieutenant Colonel Luther S. areas, but the balance of air power SBDs were "invariably escorted in Moore, who scheduled Army long- was decidedly with Commander their routine reduction efforts range P-38 Lightnings fitted with Aircraft Solomons. A Marine airagainst the fields in New Georgia." Navy navigational equipment for man wrote that the Japanese were Routine did not mean safe, as the the task. The flight plan was pre- creating an ever-growing number of Japanese just as routinely made pared by the command operations Marine, Army, and Navy fighter well to ensure the control systems

their fighter presence known. Naval officer and novelist James A. Mich-

officer, Major Condon. Yamamoto's

were over Tokyo in a kite."

cessful, attacks to disrupt the Allied buildup on Guadalcanal and in the

aces in the process.

By June, Marine Aircraft Group plane was intercepted and shot ener heard a pilot observe that he down, ending the life of one of (MAC) 21 was pounding away at Munda, but not without losses. Hywas "damned glad to be the guy Japan's major combat leaders. At the end of April 1943, the ing from Guadalcanal and Russell that draws the milk runs." But, "if you get bumped off on one of them, Japanese Eleventh Air Fleet launched Islands, ComAirSols fighter and why you're just as dead as if you a series of determined, but unsuc- strike aircraft covered the Toenails One incident occurred that symbolized the joint nature of the air effort, the destruction of the aircraft

Russell Islands. These continued

landings and subsequent operations ashore. From 30 June 1943 through July, there were only two days that

through the month, and on 16 June,

did not have "Condition Red" and

The first Marines to fight in the Central Solomons campaign were the airmen based on Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands. They flew the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bombers that struck at Munda

and elsewhere on New Georgia prior to the landings. In 1943, the planes were painted, from top to bottom, sea blue, intermediate blue, and semi-gloss sea blue, with insignia white undersurface. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 81420

.$

a

31

dogfights with Japanese aircraft gets and accurate assessment of the over the objective area by Allied results of air strikes. combat air patrols. At the same For efficient air control for the time, Japanese naval forces were lo- New Georgia operation, Admiral cated and attacked, thus forcing the Mitscher set up a new command, Japanese to move at night by cir- Commander Aircraft New Georgia

June 1943. From Rendova, he began to integrate the air defense and sup-

mand aircraft ranged as far north as Brigadier General Francis P. MulBallale, Bum, Kahili, and the Short- cahy, who commanded the 2d Malands in concert with Fifth Air Force rine Aircraft Wing. ComAir New Georgia had no aircraft of his own, strikes at the same locations. Despite this pressure, the Japan- but controlled everything in the air ese continued to attack Allied forces above or launched from a New

ground forces were ashore on New

from the air. ComAirSols planes Georgia airfield. Mulcahy and his were not able to operate effectively staff ensured command, control, at night within range of Allied anti- and coordination of direct support aircraft artillery that could not tell air for the New Georgia Occupation friendly from enemy aircraft. An- Force after it had landed.

Munda Point and against other

port system to provide XIV Corps with direct air support. On 11 July,

Commander Aircraft Segi under Lieutenant Colonel Perry 0. cuitous routes with landing barges (ComAir New Georgia), as part of Parmelee was established under alone. Bomber and Strike Com- the landing force and under Marine Mulcahy's direct command. The

Georgia and pushed ahead at Zanana and Laiana and were poised at the edge of Munda Airfield at the

end of July. Mulcahy provided air support to the infantry advance at Japanese-held areas on New Geor-

gia. By the end of the campaign, Mulcahy had ordered over 1,800 preplanned sorties mainly flown by

SBDs and TBFs against targets at was the dense jungle-covered ter- its command on Rendova after the Viru, Wickham, Munda, Enogai, other obstacle to total Allied success

ComAir New Georgia established

rain that hindered identification tar-

assault waves landed on D-Day, 30

The Vought F4U Corsair, such as these on the Russell Islands, provided much of the air support in the New Georgia campaign. Here

and Bairoko.

they taxi out from revetments onto the air strip to meet Japanese planes coming down The Slot from Bougainville and Rabaul. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 61335B

32

'

-. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 59989

BGen Francis P. Mulcahy, Commander Air Solomons, at right, at

his headquarters at Munda. On the left is Army Air Force Col

Fiske Marshall and lstLt Dorothy Shikoski, an Army nurse who flew with Marine transport squadrons during medical evacuations.

In addition, there were some 44 close to the frontlines "proved to be lowed by an 84-plane strike on antiaircraft artillery positions at Biblio close air support strikes using ad impractical" with accuracy. The R4D Skytrains of MAG-25 de-

Hill. This was coordinated with the

livered 100,000 pounds of food, water, ammunition, and medicine step in the evolution of the air con- that was the Northern Landing trol system that eventually formed Group's only source of supply at

final drive to take the campaign's

hoc forward air control and tactical air control parties from Mulcahy's

command. This was a significant

the air-ground team for the times. This support prompted one

Marines. Close air support mis- Marine raider to ask that the air drop sions were planned in detail the containers be combat, or spread, day prior to execution. The re- loaded as on one occasion they requested missions went to Mulcahy

and, if he approved, they then were forwarded to Guadalcanal,

the Russells, or Segi Point for scheduling. The next day these air-

craft reported to a rendezvous point and contacted an air support

covered 19 of a 20-container load drop and "only later discovered the missing drop contained medicinal brandy." Air drops of supplies went to the other ground forces as well, throughout a campaign fought in

radio, lights, smoke, or air panels to

difficult, trackless, terrain. On 25 July, a massive strike consisting of 66 B-17 and B-24 bombers

direct the strike. General Mulcahy commented that the use of aircraft

in concert with naval gunfire ships struck at Lambetti Plantation, fol-

party on the ground which used

33

main objective, Munda airstrip. The Japanese continued to delay the 43d Infantry Division and another strike followed on 1 August by a 36-plane attack of SBDs and TBFs, protected by some 30 fighters.

After the capture of Munda Point, General Mulcahy moved his command from Rendova to Munda airfield to set up strike and fighter

control at Kokengolo Hill. In a Japanese-built tunnel that Navy Seabees had cleared of debris and dead, Mulcahy was able to conduct

round-the-clock operations. The first fighters assigned to Munda

landed at 1500 on 14 August. While safe, the Seabee-cleared shel-

ter was also hot and smelled of its former dead occupants. On 15 August, Mulcahy sent VMF-123 and -124 fighters from Munda and Segi

Field with 20mm holes in the scene of intense activity as planes wings, several hydraulic lines cut, landed and took off to strike at a holed vertical stabilizer, and a Rabaul and Japanese shipping

fields to cover the Vella Lavella

From 16 through 19 August and then evacuate, ground forces. 1943, the Japanese shelled the air- Many barges were destroyed in field in the day and bombed it at the withdrawal that took some night. The artillery threat was 9,400 Japanese off Kolombangara. eliminated with the capture of Admiral Halsey believed that Baanga Island, but the air raids 3,000 to 4,000 other Japanese were

landings, during which they claimed 26 Japanese aircraft downed. On this day, VMF-124's First Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh began a streak that would eventually earn him the Medal of Honor for shooting down 21 Japanese aircraft. After accounting for three

aircraft over Vella Lavella, he brought his Corsair back to Munda

which were first trying to supply,

flat tire.

continued with intermittent bomb-

ing and strafing through the fall.

killed during these evacuations. Captain John M. Foster, an F4U pilot, wrote about flying during this

From then, until the establishment of airfields on Bougainville three time and his first mission from months later, Munda Field was the Munda. "Never had I attempted to

Munda Airfield was an essential element in supporting Allied air support in the battles for Vella Lavella, Bougainville, and New Britain that followed. Until air fields were established at Empress

Augusta Bay on Bougainville in November 1943, Munda was the scene of intense aviation activity. Marine Corps Historical Collection

34

p

%V

— Marine Corps Historical Collection

fan try Division add graffiti to a shell to be sent as a "Message

Here Batteries A and B set up at Piru Plantation to shell Vila. The counterbattery exchanges with the Japanese on Kolorn bangara gave the battle a personal note. Soldiers from the 25th In-

from FDR" at the campaign's end.

"Success in the air is a lot of little work, described as "one of the land a plane on a field as narrow and short as the Munda strip," he things," observed VMF-214's com- greatest single-handed feats" of the

recalled. Rolling onto the taxiway, he was thankful for the 2,000 horsepower of engine to "plow through the mud." The crews lived in tents and messed in a screened framed

mander and Medal of Honor recipient, Major Gregory (Pappy) Boyington, and most of them "can be taken

Pacific War.

During this time, Lieutenant Colonel Frank H. Schwable's

care of before takeoff." With the VMF(N)-531 arrived in the Russells Japanese air bases now within closer to begin night-fighter operations building chow-hall which the range of Allied aircraft, Boyington along with a similar Navy unit. Seabees built. The air units provided and others conducted fighter sweeps Using ground-controlled radar indawn to dusk coverage, with the of 36 to 48 planes that were classics tercept vectors, the squadron's night spent in rest and recovery. The of their kind. Throughout this, es- Lockheed PV-1 Venturas then night's sleep was often disrupted by corted bomber and strafing attacks closed for the kill using the airthe appearance of a single Japanese continued. The capture and use of craft's on-board radar. This began bomber variously called "Washing Munda Field was now felt by the the Marines' ability to deny the

Machine Charlie," "Louie the Japanese "in spades" observed Japanese the cover of darkness over Louse," "Maytag Charlie," or "other names less printable."

On 24 August, ComAir New Georgia at Munda was relieved

Fighter Command's Condon, as dive bombing and strafing attacks against the enemy were daily routine.

Vella Lavella and elsewhere.

Air support during the Central

On 28 August, First Lieutenant

Solomons campaign was considered of high quality by all commanders.

by Commander Aircraft Solomon's Fighter Command, at which time,

Alvin J. Jensen of VMF-214 was lost

Aviation historian and veteran Pa-

ComAirSols on 24 September.

earned the Navy Cross for this replace. Marine aviation unit casual-

in a rainstorm over Kahili and cific War correspondent Robert General Mulcahy turned over his when he broke through the clouds Sherrod estimated that of the 358 responsibilities to Colonel William he found himself inverted over the aircraft the Japanese lost during this 0. Brice. Mulcahy's staff continued Japanese field. Turning wings level, campaign, 187 were destroyed by to coordinate liaison and spotter he proceeded to shoot up the flight- Marine air. More significant were aircraft and strike missions launch- line and accounted for 24 enemy the resultant deaths of highly ing from Munda Field until re- aircraft on the ground. Photographs trained and experienced pilots and lieved of these responsibilities by confirmed the damage and Jensen crews whom the Japanese could not 35

ties for operations in the Central

however, this poorly armed

dition than might have been other-

Solomons were 34 of the 97 Allied aircraft lost. As a postscript to New Georgia operations, on 20 October

force of ours has not been overcome and we are still

wise expected. Morale during the pe-

1943, Commander Aircraft Solomons moved to Munda to use the airfield as his headquarters from

In his postwar memoirs, Admiral Halsey commented on how the smell of burnt reputations in the New Georgia campaign still filled his nostrils. The smoking reputations Halsey referred to came as

which he would fight the New Britain and Bougainville campaigns.

A Joint Pattern for Victory The last Japanese air attacks on New Georgia came the nights of 16 and 17 January 1944, but by then the campaign was finished and the final score taken. Army historian John Miller quoted a senior officer as concluding that the heavily out-

riods of greatest danger had been high. In the last two months of the

guarding this island

campaign with enemy activity virtu-

ally nonexistent, the effects of the rough conditions showed to a certain extent, but at no time, was there any

slackening in the performance of duty. For most of the campaign, shel-

the result of outright reliefs and ter and sanitation were absent and transfers of senior officers and they the food, though usually of sufficient were not limited to any one ser- quantity was seldom appetizing.

vice. Numerous changes were made in the command structure

until he got the commanders

It was felt after the Solomons campaign that "struggle for control of the Solomon Islands was a critical turn-

needed to produce results. The ing point in the war against Japan.

payoff to the New Georgia operation resulted in the Vella Lavella numbered Japanese stood off nearly landings that bypassed Kolombanfour Allied divisions in the course gara and successful Bougainville of the action, and successfully with- and New Britain campaigns that drew to fight again. One Japanese demonstrated the pattern for sucnoted at the time that the: cessful joint operations there and Japanese Army is still throughout the Pacific War. depending on the hand-toThe Army had 1,094 men killed hand fighting of the Meiji Era and 3,873 wounded in the fighting

These campaigns can best be appre-

ciated as a sequence of interacting naval, land, and air operations." The contribution to the ability to conduct joint operations was measured in the differences between the fighting on

while the enemy is using

for New Georgia, while the Marines

highly developed scientific weapons. Thinking it over,

suffered 650 casualties in all. The

New Georgia in the summer 1943 and the success realized at Bougainville and Cape Gloucester later in the year. Here was a pattern for joint operations, and, as coastwatcher D.C. Horton phrased it, it

Marines came through in better con-

was a "pattern for victory."

at assigned targets. Here elements of Battery A smolders after

Even though the 9th Defense Battalion Artillery Group positions at Munda Airfield were bombed, they continued to fire

an air raid.

Department of Defense Photo (USMC) Photo 56830

I

I 'V

36

The basic sources for this pam-

ajor Charles D. Melson, USMC (Retired) is originally from the San Fransciso Bay area. He is married to Janet Ann Pope, a former Navy Nurse. Major Melson completed graduate education at St. John's College in Annapolis. He is a

M

phlet were the second volume in the series History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Isolation of Rabaul, written by Henry I. Shaw, Jr. and Maj Douglas T. Kane, USMC (Washington: Historical Branch, G-3

coauthor of The War that Would Not End, a

Division, HQMC, 1963), and Maj John T. Rentz, USMCR, Marines in the Central Solomons (Washington: Historical Branch, HQMC, 1952).

Other books used in this narrative were: Adm William F. Halsey and J.

Bryan III, Admiral Halsey's Story (New York, McGraw Hill, 1947); Saburo Hayashi and Alvin D. Coox, Kogun, The Japanese Army in the Pacific (Quantico: Marine Corps Asso-

volume in the official history of Marine Corps

operations in Vietnam, and is the author of Vietnam Marines. He served as a historian in the Marine Corps Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, for six years and continues to deal with the past as the director of The Queen Anne's Museum of Eastern Shore Life in Maryland. Major Melson was a Marine for 25 years, 1967 to 1992, and served in Vietnam in a variety of Fleet Marine Force positions. He was a history instructor at the United States Naval Academy, and served also at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

ciation, 1959); RAdm Samuel E. Morison, Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier: History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II, vol VI (Boston: Lit-

50th

tle Brown and Company, 1950);

NN LF.